2024 ILLINOIS FINAL TOP 40 FOOTBALL STUDENT SECTION RANKINGS

Off front, Northern, Previews, Student Section Buzz,

The time has come to start ranking 50 states that we covered this football season. 

To say I’m overwhelmed with the work that comes along with this is a huge huge understatement.

We had 11 Student Section of the Week winners in Illinois and that helped us determine who had the best Student Section and which ones wanted it more.

Just showing up in large crowds isn’t enough. It might fool other outlets that don’t cover Student Sections, but not us. We have to know how bad you want it and marketing is key. 

You will see top-notch Student Sections miss out at the top spot, but we kept saying it over and over and over again, in order to be considered number one, you have to win the Student Section of the Week title. Otherwise, what is the point of having that contest?!

I know Student Sections complain but remember it’s thousands of Student Sections and only me. Social media is your friend if used correctly.

A Student Section that doesn’t post videos or photos of there Student Section on a consistent basis is like a tree falling with no one around. It doesn’t make any noise.

This is our third year covering Football Student Sections in Illinois. We had Naperville North Dawgpound winning it in 2022 and St. Charles North Blue Man Group in 2023.

This state is loaded with fantastic Student Sections and it’s not like there’s an obvious pick for number one. It’s anyone’s game to take the top spot in this state!

We will have 4 Student Sections in Indiana that will be voting in the Student Section playoffs that will begin soon.

So, let’s see who made the list and who is the best in the Prairie State.

2024 ILLINOIS FINAL TOP 40 FOOTBALL STUDENT SECTION RANKINGS

RED = PLAYOFF BOUND

  1. Prospect Underground (2023 Rank: 13)

The Underground is ironic because there is no secret to this Student Section because they love to show off their school spirit on Instagram! Packed stands and they go nuts! It’s the perfect combo of a top notch Student Section. We’ll see how they’ll fare in the National Student Section playoffs that start pretty soon, but for now, they’re the Illinois Football Student Section of the Year!

  1. Maine South Hawk Nation (2023 Rank: 5)

Man, what a stacked Student Section! This video is super impressive and I’m sure a huge distraction for opponents. We’ll see how they’ll fare in the National Student Section playoffs that start pretty soon.

  1. Lincoln Way West (2023 Rank: 2)

Lincoln Way West can pack the stands, but that seems like a weekly thing. This Student Section can rock the stands! We’ll see how they’ll fare in the National Student Section playoffs that start pretty soon.

  1. Wheaton Warrenville South (2023 Rank: NR)

This Student Section is lit. They pack the stands and shake up the stands as we see from other Instagram post. We’ll see how they’ll fare in the National Student Section playoffs that start pretty soon.

  1. St. Charles North Blue Fan Group (2023 Rank: 1)

The Blue Fan Group once again packed the stands as they remain in the Top 5. St. Charles North is very consistent.

  1. Batavia Dogpound (2023 Rank: 14)
  1. Wheaton North (2023 Rank: 7)
  1. Leyden Nest (2023 Rank: 3)
  1. Fenwick Friar Nation (2023 Rank: 9)
  1. Maine West (2023 Rank: 18)
  1. Columbia (2023 Rank: NR)
  2. Lincoln Way East (2023 Rank: 19)
  3. Naperville North Dawgpound (2023 Rank: 6)
  4. Hershey Orange Crush (2023 Rank: 8)
  5. Lyons Township Weirds (2023 Rank: 10)
  6. Bolingbrook Red Zone (2023 Rank: 15)
  7. Mahomet-Seymour (2023 Rank: 4)
  8. Prairie Ridge (2023 Rank: 30)
  9. Buffalo Grove Blue Crew (2023 Rank: NR)
  10. Brother Rice Crazies (2023 Rank: 22)
  11. West Aurora Rowdies (2023 Rank: NR)
  12. Barrington Big Red (2023 Rank: 17)
  13. Naperville Central Rowdies (2023 Rank: NR)
  14. Warren Township Blue Crew (2023 Rank: 20)
  15. Niles West (2023 Rank: NR)
  16. Glenbard West Crazies (2023 Rank: 21)
  17. Collinsville Kahok Krazies (2023 Rank: NR)
  18. New Trier Green Team (2023 Rank: NR)
  19. Metamora Birds Nest (2023 Rank: NR)
  20. St. Rita Stable (2023 Rank: 27)
  21. Richwood Dungeon (2023 Rank: NR)
  22. Lockport (2023 Rank: 11)
  23. Edwardsville (2023 Rank: 12)
  24. Joliet Catholic (2023 Rank: NR)
  25. York (2023 Rank: 23)
  26. Marist (2023 Rank: 28)
  27. Maine East (2023 Rank: 31)
  28. Sandberg (2023 Rank: 16)
  29. Cary-Grover (2023 Rank: 33)
  30. Downers Grove North (2023 Rank: 26)

HONORABLE MENTION: Neuqua Valley, St. Francis, Effingham, Lena-Winslow, Rochester